Is ENDO Dying?

[Kobe08]

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Sorry to deviate from the acceptances/chances/DAT tips nature of this forum, but I am interested in becoming an endodontist. I am not sure however if the specialty will fade away in the near future. Do any of you know any professionals or insiders who might have some sort of idea? Thanks

 

[wkupredental]

Sorry to deviate from the acceptances/chances/DAT tips nature of this forum, but I am interested in becoming an endodontist. I am not sure however if the specialty will fade away in the near future. Do any of you know any professionals or insiders who might have some sort of idea? Thanks

What makes you think it's dying?

I, obviously, haven't started school yet or anything... But reading articles about new endo techniques, etc., makes me think that it's not...

However, I'd be interested to hear about it from someone who's already in school or in the field.

 

[Kobe08]

I heard from one endodontist (and this is just one) that the new techniques make it easier for GP's to perform cases that in the past would normally be referred to specialists. That and implants becoming for reliable and affordable are chipping away at the specialty.

 

[wkupredental]

I heard from one endodontist (and this is just one) that the new techniques make it easier for GP's to perform cases that in the past would normally be referred to specialists. That and implants becoming for reliable and affordable are chipping away at the specialty.

We don't have an Endodontist in my area - but I've been told by several generals that they wished there was one.

From my limited view on things... A lot of patients I've seen want to keep their original teeth if at all possible. Many general dentists aren't able to do the more complex cases, and need to be able to refer them to an Endo specialist. So... I can still see the merit of having one around.

But... that's just my take on it... Interesting viewpoint though. I'm interested in Endo, as well... So - I hope that's not the case, just yet. lol

 

[dentalWorks]

Endo is not dying (nor will it ever die) however, its not the way it used to be like in the 80s and 90s where... endodontist = millionaire in less than 5 years

The problem today is, everyone is doing implants (GPs, periods, Oral surgeons, heck, I wouldn't be surprised if orthodontists did them too lol), and this is only going to make things worse for endodontists because... instead of referring a complicated root canal, the GP will "convince" the pt to just extract the tooth and get an implant instead. This way, the GP gets to keep the pt in-house.

To makes things worse, implant technology is BOOMING, and I bet in 10-15 years, it will be just as reliable as your natural teeth.

 

[showmeurteeth]

I was actually speaking to the periodontist I work for about this, and he stated that he's going to start taking on more Endo cases instead of referring to an Endodontist. He just bought a 3D panoramic machine that allows him to see each tooth individually at all angles, and access the number of canals, which is important for root canals. As technology is improving, more and more GP's will take on endo cases on their own, in order to keep patients. I don't think it's necessarily dying, but unless endodontists don't keep up with technology that's avaliable, GP's are going to refer less patients to them. Just my two cents.

 

[thesituationPhD]

i've been asking myself the same questions about perio. Granted certain procedures aren't going anywhere but with Gp's placing more implants and doing more in house procedures. is it a dying field?

 

[lemoncurry]

endo is not dying, nor is perio. If anything, based on what I see everyday in the clinic, perio is doing quite well and will continue to do so.

at LLU, starting next year, they will offer a combined endo/implant program.


I don't see any of the major specialties dying out any time soon.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Just my two cents... but I'm just a pre-dent who don't know squat. That was my disclaimer haha 😀

I don't think endo will vanish completely... at the most, programs may just pump out less endos.

Why do I think that endo won't vanish?
First and foremost... some pts will put off simple fillings for the longest time and then it turns into a RCT. When the tooth is hot and its a saturday night... chances are they end up getting redirected to an endo's office 😉

Well that isn't quite convincing but I think the more important point to grasp is... TIME. The time it takes to go from RCT ~> CR won't take more than 3-4 weeks tops. While if they opt to go the implant route, the area where the tooth is extracted will need a minimum of 6 weeks to heal. After its healed then the implant needs to be placed and after placement it'll be another 3 months (the very minimum) before they can even start the next step. Why 3 months? The implant needs time to integrate. Then it'll take another 2 weeks and a few days of change before the implant crown + abutment will come back.

Also... especially if the tooth that is being extracted is in an aesthetic location, the pt will probably need/want a flipper anyway and that'll incur additional costs. In this economy where pts try to nickel and dime you...

I'm sure there are a whole bunch of other reasons too.

 

[UltimateHombre]

Sure implants are getting huge!! But at the same time, i don't think that they will ever be as good as a real tooth. Implants don't or probably never will have nerves or periodontal ligaments attached to them, which is the true benefit of having teeth, having feeling for chewing and biting.

Also, i personally believe that in the near future we will actually be growing teeth. That have already accomplished it in mice, it is only a matter of time till it will happen in humans. And when it does, i think that the nerve and root specialists, will be leading the way. I mean reimplantation and tooth regeneration are already common endo procedures.

Not to mention that there will always be crazy endo cases that no GP will ever perform. I don't foresee endo dying, just evolving like the rest of the specialties.

 

[Kobe08]

And I know money isn't everything...but will Endo still be at least a relatively lucrative profession in the future. The reason I ask is because I am afraid that it was head towards a field that will only lead to work in academia and is not sustainable in the "real world." Thanks for the all the replies guys!

 

[yappy]

I dont know the future but most dentists I've talked to have told me most endo practices in this area are having a net for the owner @ 400k+.

Think about billing 800-1000/ pt with a low overhead.

And I know money isn't everything...but will Endo still be at least a relatively lucrative profession in the future. The reason I ask is because I am afraid that it was head towards a field that will only lead to work in academia and is not sustainable in the "real world." Thanks for the all the replies guys!

 

[dentalWorks]

endo is not dying, nor is perio. If anything, based on what I see everyday in the clinic, perio is doing quite well and will continue to do so.

at LLU, starting next year, they will offer a combined endo/implant program.


I don't see any of the major specialties dying out any time soon.

Just to add to this...
At detroit Mercy, its the perio department that handles all implant cases (not oral surg.)....the perio residents graduate with a lot of implant cases.... Can you say Chah'-cheng $$$$

 

[Doc Smile]

Dentistry is always changing. GPs will always take on more and more procedures as your dental education makes us more prepared (yeah right), and the CE courses available tackle complex procedures. But, there is always going to be bigger and better technologies that the majority of GPs cannot afford (money or time invested to learn how), and will stay specialized. GPs chucking more wizzies? So what! OMFS is placing implants! GPs placing implants? SO WHAT!? OMFS growing real teeth yo.

Everything trickle downs. As techniques become more streamlined, it becomes easier for GPs to do. Even if everyone knows a general dentist who does most of his endo, or pulls thirds, or places implants, the majority of GPs still refer out and will always refer out.

Except perio. they are getting rid of that one.

 

[Kobe08]

Dentistry is always changing. GPs will always take on more and more procedures as your dental education makes us more prepared (yeah right), and the CE courses available tackle complex procedures. But, there is always going to be bigger and better technologies that the majority of GPs cannot afford (money or time invested to learn how), and will stay specialized. GPs chucking more wizzies? So what! OMFS is placing implants! GPs placing implants? SO WHAT!? OMFS growing real teeth yo.

Everything trickle downs. As techniques become more streamlined, it becomes easier for GPs to do. Even if everyone knows a general dentist who does most of his endo, or pulls thirds, or places implants, the majority of GPs still refer out and will always refer out.

Except perio. they are getting rid of that one.

Haha thanks...so Endo is relatively safe in the near future?

 

[dantemac]

Endo is safe in my opinion. RCT will never go away, even as implants become more broadly accepted by patients. However, a good dentist will always try to save the tooth structure that is there first, it's cheaper that way (usually).

 

[ChubbyBaby]

I was actually speaking to the periodontist I work for about this, and he stated that he's going to start taking on more Endo cases instead of referring to an Endodontist.

I think this says a lot more about periodontology than endodontics. He must be starving if he's doing a bunch of endo.